Democratic senator proposing his own solution to redistricting fight

Published: Thursday, July 10, 2003

Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP)  While other Senate Democrats are flat out saying no to plans to redraw congressional district lines during the special legislative session, Democrat Sen. Ken Armbrister of Victoria is taking another route.

Armbrister, one of two Senate Democrats considered to be on the fence about whether to support a redistricting plan, is putting together his own map.

"If I was the governor, no I wouldn't have called a special session, but the governor did call it so I'm here and I'm going to try to do the best I can," Armbrister said. "What I am trying to do is at least have a starting point."

He said he will not support the map that the House approved this week and does not believe a majority of senators would either. That plan could send as many as 21 Texas Republicans to Congress.

Democrats now have a 17-15 hold in the congressional delegation. Republicans, led by U.S. Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, have said the state should have more Republican districts to reflect the state's voting trends.

Armbrister said his map was being worked on and he didn't know how many Republicans could win seats under it. But, he said all the districts would be competitive and he estimated that five would be extremely competitive. No incumbents would be paired to run against one another, he said.

He has said he wants to ensure rural areas keep their voice in Congress.

"What this does is reflect a clear-cut division between purely urban and rural so that we try to maintain that community of interest," Armbrister said.

Armbrister is not the only one who is coming up with a map. Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, is expected to file one. Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, has said he may file a congressional plan he put together two years ago.

Another map is expected to come from Sen. Chris Harris, a Republican member of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee, which is handling the redistricting bill.

If the Senate Jurisprudence Committee ultimately approves a bill, it will take two-thirds of the Senate to vote to allow the measure to come to the Senate floor for debate. Republicans dominate the chamber 19-12, but it would take only 11 Democrats to block a bill.

Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, former chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said he doesn't want a vote on redistricting, but he didn't criticize Armbrister for trying to draw a plan.

"It's the good ole' U. S. of A. If that's what he wants to do, go right ahead," said Barrientos, D-Austin.